The Centers for Medicare Services are making some changes to the rating scale for nursing homes. Many nursing homes in PA are worried that this may cause their ratings to go down. Currently the rating system for nursing homes is on a 1 to 5 star scale. With eleven new…
Due to substandard care at over 30 nursing home facilities, Extendicare Health Services will now have to pay $38 million in a settlement. The investigation began when two whistleblowers within the company filed complaints that the company was billing Medicare and Medicaid for substandard care, and unnecessary therapy. The violations…
On July 31st, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois introduced Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act or H.R. 5373. This new bill calls for strict mandates on nursing homes that receive Medicare and/or Medicaid reimbursements. If passed, this legislation would require these facilities to have one registered nurse…
Every patient in a hospital expects good care and proper treatment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Improper hospital care can result in serious injuries and even loss of life. In May 2010, a Louisiana woman received serious burns after she underwent a routine procedure that required her…
We all want to believe that extra care and respect is shown toward the elderly in our communities, as they are among the most vulnerable of our population. To ensure this, a pilot-program launched in Philadelphia in 2012 has taken steps to guard against people who might be inclined to…
Friendship Ridge, the county-owned nursing home in Beaver County, is eliminating over 100 jobs after a contract was approved last month by employees. According to an article on BizJournals.com, the positions being cut include registered nurses and restorative nurses. Positions in maintenance, dietary, the hair salon, and recreation specialists will…
The coroner is investigating the death of a resident that took place on Saturday at the Golden Living Center in Waynesburg, just outside of Pittsburgh. According to an article on TheRepublic.com, the woman’s neck became stuck between the mattress and the bed rail. The coroner has ruled the death “accidental…
A recent article on TribLive.com highlights the urgent need for more nursing homes bed as the population in Pennsylvania ages. The reason? There’s simply not enough beds available to accommodate the estimate of seniors who will need them. In the article, an administrator for Lakeview Personal Care Home in Beaver…
When we make the difficult decision to place our loved one in a skilled nursing facility, we want to ensure that they will be looked after and cared for by professional health care workers. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Take for example a story from Scranton on TheTimes-Tribune.com. A…
A New Jersey family struck a win for the rights of nursing home residents who are hard of hearing. According to an article on BurlingtonCountyTimes.com, Medford Care Center in Medford, NJ will now provide a sign-language interpreter for those residents who are deaf or hard of hearing. In 2012, the…